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Bag the prefect tree Freshness is key to lasting quality for the Christmas Season By Kimberly Leonard. Special Sections Editor.
But, getting there can sometimes be a long road. There are several lots, different tree varieties and an important decision to make about how tall is too tall. There are the inevitable Charlie Brown trees. The best plan of action is to know what you're looking for. According to Ruth Lane, of Lane Farms, shoppers need to know their price range, have an idea of the variety of tree they want, and be on the lookout for freshness. "You're looking for freshness," says Dave Lidren, of Big Wave Dave's. "It's the most important thing." The best way to test the freshness of a cut tree is to tug on a branch, he said. The needles should stay on the tree rather than dropping to the ground. Judy Smith, of La Sumida Nursery, said shoppers should realize that often trees have been cut months before they ever see a nursery or farm stand. If the trees haven't been kept moist, they may be severely dried out. The needles on the branches should be flexible, she said. Display at the store also matters, Smith said. They should be displayed so that the shopper can see all the sides of the tree. Lidren added that they should be kept in stands with water rather than on the ground or pavement. After purchasing a tree, the first step is to make a fresh cut at the base, Lane said. The new cut allows the tree to absorb the most water. If the tree doesn't get a fresh cut, it won't absorb water. The rings that absorb water on the base seal over with sap and don't allow more water absorption. "The fresh cut gives it the ultimate ability to drink water," Lidren said. According to Lidren, the most important thing to do once the tree is home is get it into water. Even if the tree isn't coming into the house for a few days, it still needs to be in a stand with water. Lane also recommends a tree preservative, which may help the tree keep longer. Dog owners, however, should avoid preservatives if the family canine is likely to drink out of the water. Another consideration when Christmas tree shopping is the type of tree. Douglas firs and noble firs are the most common varieties seen on the west coast. East coasters are likely to remember seeing spruce, frasier fir or balsam fir trees from Christmases past. If the house is particularly warm or the tree will be heavily decorated with warm lights, a noble fir could be the best choice. Noble firs, Lidren said, last longer in warmer environments than their more temperamental competitors, the douglas firs. For those who look for their Christmas tree early in the season, a noble fir might be a better fit because they are also known for their longevity. According to Lane, noble firs or silvertips are great for displaying ornaments because the branches have larger spaces in between. A nordman fir tree is a beautiful choice because it has a silver underlining. Lidren added that the main alternatives he sees to cut trees are potted trees and artificial trees. Cost is also a consideration in finding the perfect Christmas tree. While trees may seem expensive, there are many factors in the price. Christmas trees are crops, Lidren said, so the farmers producing the trees, which can take several years to grow, need to be paid. Those production costs passed on to the consumer include property costs, annual pruning, shearing and transportation to farm stands, among other things. Smith said that while tree prices at box stores may be slightly lower, there's a large chance the tree has been sitting around. Large stores by trees in bulk so the plants must be cut sooner to ship around the country. Sellers speak about real vs. fake trees Fake or real is a private decision every family must make when it comes to their Christmas tree. Business owners selling cut Christmas Trees want to dispel some myths about their product. "Obviously, selling real trees, we think that's the way to go," said Ruth Lane, of Lane Farms.Judy Smith, of La Sumida Nursery, doesn't fault people who want plastic Christmas trees at the center of their holiday celebration. She just wants them to do it for the right reason. Artificial trees can be easy to maintain and set up, Smith says. Also, they can be cost effective if one tree lasts several years. Christmas trees are crops, says Dave Lidren, of Big Wave Dave's. That means they are grown to be cut down. "It's good for the environment. It's a crop. It generates taxes and other money," he said. Cutting Christmas trees is not an environmental tragedy, adds Smith, who says that the growing and cutting of crops is beneficial to the economy and to farmers. Artificial trees are also made with chemicals and, when they are broken, are not always recycled. That means they can contribute to land fills, Lidren says. Lane notes that in cutting Christmas trees, farmers also plant more, which contributes more oxygen to the environment. Buying a cut Christmas tree is also an experience, says Lidren. It's a fun time for the whole family to spend together picking out a tree that will live in the home. "It's a whole experience. A more wholesome experience for the whole family," he said. "An artificial tree has no smell, it's plastic. A fresh cut has smell, it's alive. You really get to enjoy it." All Content ©Copyright 2006
Santa Barbara News-Press / Ampersand Publishing, LLC unless otherwise specified. |
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